Graduation Honors Policy

• Timing of GPA Calculation:

  • For May commencements: End of Fall term GPA will be used for the Commencement Program. 
  • For December commencements: End of Summer term GPA will be used for the Commencement Program. 
  • Honors will be recalculated after all requirements are met and will appear on the final transcript.   
• Honors Cords and Societies:
  • Approved academic societies may award cords for the commencement ceremony. These are listed in the graduation program. 

Graduates requesting to wear cords from societies not on the approved list must submit requests to the Registrar by March 31 (spring) or October 31 (fall).

• Undergraduate Level Honors 

  • Bachelor’s Degrees (60 Bethel Credits):
    • Summa Cum Laude: 3.90 cumulative GPA
    • Magna Cum Laude: 3.75 cumulative GPA
    • Cum Laude: 3.60 cumulative GPA
• Bachelor’s Degrees for Students with Fewer than 60 Credits Taken at Bethel University:
  • With Distinction: 3.90 cumulative GPA

• Graduate Level Honors

For graduate students in programs where no GPA-based honors apply, the hood will be considered the primary honor.  

• For master’s-level programs at Bethel Seminary, the following graduation honors levels apply:
  • Summa Cum Laude: 3.90 cumulative GPA
  • Magna Cum Laude: 3.75 cumulative GPA
  • Cum Laude: 3.60 cumulative GPA

Semester’s Honors Policy

Dean’s List Honors:

• Undergraduate students who complete at least 12 credits in a semester with a GPA of 3.60 or higher will receive Dean's List recognition.
  • Dean’s List status is final 14 days after the final grade deadline.